How can HTTP status codes accurately indicate the outcome of a web service request?

I am currently working on a Web service that provides a JSON-encoded payload. In the event of a failed service call, such as due to invalid parameters, an error will be returned in JSON format. I am uncertain about which HTTP status code is appropriate for this situation.

On one hand, it might make sense to return a 200 OK response since the actual HTTP transfer was successful, despite encountering an application error.

However, following a RESTful approach would suggest that if the caller is trying to post to a resource and the JSON parameters are found to be invalid, a 400 Bad Request status code would be more fitting.

My client-side implementation relies on Prototype, which offers a convenient way to handle callbacks based on HTTP status codes using onSuccess and onFailure. This makes me inclined to use status codes to indicate service success or failure, but I am open to hearing opinions or insights from others about common practices in this area.

Thank you!

Answer №1

HTTP status codes serve as indicators for the application response's state. If JSON parameters are deemed invalid, a 400 status code is an appropriate response.

Utilizing HTTP status codes is indeed advantageous, as they provide clear and consistent feedback across various applications and web services.

Answer №2

It is essential to make use of the correct status codes as they serve a specific purpose, namely indicating the outcome of an HTTP request rather than the request's own status. Utilizing these codes allows for redirection of responses to the appropriate function or branch prior to parsing, resulting in cleaner code on the client side.

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